Pro-Russian separatists have fired on a Ukrainian broader patrol ship in the Sea of Azov by firing artillery from the shore, and a Ukrainian military spokesman said a rescue operation was under way.

There is no information on how bad the damage is or if there are any casualties.

Spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the vessel was a naval cutter. There was no information on the number of people on board.

The pro-Russian rebels claimed responsibility for the attack near the city of Mariupol, located about 50 kilometers [30 miles] from the Russian border and about 35 kilometers from Novoazovsk, which was overtaken by pro-Russian rebels over the weekend.

The separatists have been fighting government forces since April in a conflict that has killed some 2,600 people, but this was the first naval attack of the war.

It came after rebel forces opened a new front in the fighting last week, breaking through to the Azov Sea in Ukraine's southeast.

“The militia have dealt the enemy their first naval defeat,” Igor Strelkov, a former separatist military commander, said on the social media network VKontakte.

Putin pushes statehood

Russian President Vladimir Putin is calling for immediate and substantive talks on statehood for southeastern Ukraine.

Putin said Sunday on state TV that such a move is needed "to protect the lawful interests of people" who live in the region.

Until now, Moscow has called for increased but still limited autonomy for eastern parts of Ukraine, where many Russian speakers live and where pro-Russian separatists are active.

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels say they have asked the European Commission for a list of new measures to take against Russia if it fails to reverse course in Ukraine.

A statement by the EU leaders demands that Russia "immediately withdraw all its military assets and forces from Ukraine." Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Russia denies it has troops in Ukraine.

Separatist leader Oleksandr Zakharchenko said Russian soldiers are there, but only as volunteers while on leave from the Russian army. NATO estimates at least 1,000 Russian troops are present inside Ukraine.

Arms for Ukraine

News of the attack came a short time after a prominent U.S. lawmaker said the United States and Europe should provide arms to Ukraine's military to combat what he called a Russian invasion.

Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, appeared on CNN television from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Sunday.

Menendez said "thousands" of Russian troops are in Ukraine supporting rebel separatists, and that the U.S., European Union and NATO "have to give the Ukrainians the fighting chance to defend themselves."

The Democrat from the northeastern state of New Jersey said he is not suggesting U.S. or NATO troops be sent to Ukraine.

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein told NBC television Sunday she believes the situation in Ukraine is deeply personal for Putin, and she said he may be calling the shots himself.

"People say, ‘Just wait till the sanctions bite and the economy slips.’ I don't think so. I think if Russians follow him, and … they are following him … the Russians are very brave and very long suffering, and they will tough out any economic difficulty," she said.

The Democrat, who represents the West Coast state of California and chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said senior U.S. officials, such as Secretary of State John Kerry, should be sent to talk directly with Putin.

EU sanctions

Also Sunday, the European Union threatened Russia with new sanctions if Moscow continues its military activity in eastern Ukraine.

But the EU is deeply divided on the severity of possible actions, as many of the 28 members of the European bloc are dependent upon Russian gas and trade.

EU leaders meeting in Brussels announced early Sunday after lengthy talks that they have asked the European Commission for a list to be prepared within a week of new measures to take against Russia if it fails to reverse course in Ukraine.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said, "The European Council says that it stands ready to take further significant steps in the light of the evolution of the situation on the ground and it requests the commission to urgently undertake preparatory work, together with [European External] Action Service and present proposals for consideration within, within a week."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Putin must act quickly to avoid new sanctions.

"There is very significant inflow of troops and material from the Russian side into Ukraine, into Ukrainian territory, which means that there is a significant escalation on the ground, at the same time we said, and this is the view of all the members of the European Council, that there cannot be a military solution to this conflict," said Merkel.

"And that is to say that all our efforts must go towards keeping the channel of communication open and to try time and again, as President [Petro] Poroshenko also pointed out, to bring about a mutually agreed cease-fire," she added.

'Serious situation'

British Prime Minister David Cameron said Russia must realize its relationship with the West has a bleak future it Moscow continues on its current path in eastern Ukraine.

"It is a deeply serious situation and we have to show real resolve, real resilience in demonstrating to Russia that if she carries on in this way, the relationship between Europe and Russia, Britain and Russia, America and Russia will be radically different in the future," said Cameron.

"They cannot go on in this way. We know from European history the danger of the territorial integrity of a nation state being threatened and undermined in this way and we have to send the clearest possible signal and tonight we have taken some important steps in doing just that," he said.

A joint statement by the EU leaders demanded Russia "immediately withdraw all its military assets and forces from Ukraine."

Despite overwhelming evidence, Russia denies it has such forces in Ukraine.

While rebel leaders admit that Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine, separatist leader Zakharchenko insisted they are doing so as volunteers while on leave from the Russian army.

New sanctions on Russia would require unanimity among EU leaders, and many are wary of taking strong measures in fear of an economic backlash.

The United States has expressed strong support for the latest European actions, saying in a statement Washington is "working closely with the EU and other partners to hold Russia accountable for its illegal actions in Ukraine, including through additional economic sanctions."

U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to travel to Wales this week for a NATO summit that will address the crisis and formulate a strategy aimed at deterring what is widely seen as Russia's territorial overreach.

The NATO summit, which begins on Thursday, will also address the drawdown in Afghanistan.

Comments page of 6

The western leaders need to suck it up and admitt to us all that they flat out refuse to assist here. They need to stop pretending that they value freedom and confess that the almighty dollar rules when it comes to despising making. We as citizens must also face the facts that we are not willing to sacrifice from our plate either. The great generation shouldered rations and shortages at home so Europe could be free'd from tyranny. Ask yourselves, are you willing to make the same sacrifice for your fellow man? Be honest everyone!

by: HLCUkraine from: Tampa, Florida

September 01, 2014 8:02 AM

I am an American and live in the Ukraine. I am tired of the US/European hypocrisy, economics over values.The Ukraine should repeal their "Non Block" status and ask China for military assistance. How about a Communist ally in Europe? As I write I cannot believe I would ever say something like this!!!!!!! My father must be rolling over in his grave.

In Response

by: June from: UK

September 01, 2014 2:00 PM

Only one problem, China are in bed with Russia trade wise. US and UK and also the EU want to wise up, stop worrying about what they might lose in trade and weigh that against the Freedom of our countries that is now threatened by this evil maniac

by: Ron from: Ukraine

September 01, 2014 3:31 AM

The boats were not taken out by separatists firing artillery. Home videos show the boats were bombed by low-flying aircraft. Are the separtists now flying jets over the Azov sea or was it Russian Air Force?

by: nubwaxer from: uranus

September 01, 2014 2:24 AM

i think iraq and ukraine could probably use all that military gear the pentagon gave to police departments that don't need it and should not have it.

by: TRUTH45 from: USA

September 01, 2014 12:48 AM

EU has to stop the LIP SERVICE, the stupid ultimatums to Russia and get to work by imposing swift and forceful sanctions.....they need to stop these non value meetings after meeting...PUTIN does not rake them seriously ...doesn't the EU know that by now....PUTIN knows the game...he knows the EU does not gave the will for tougher and much less to confront him...they look lime clowns with new meetings after meeting and ultimatum after ultimatum.....but no TEETH or seriousness ...just a stupid burocracy

by: Anonymous

September 01, 2014 12:35 AM

There fired no rebel but Russia's military!

by: Abi T. from: md

August 31, 2014 11:55 PM

Senator Dianne Feinstein is an excellent senator, let's hope her voice is heard so that lasting peace can be achieved and people who are brothers would stop killing each other.

by: alex from: australia

August 31, 2014 10:18 PM

I grew up in the USSR and left in 1977, Putin, a KGB Operativ still is just that and if anyone thinks that he can be anything other then, doesn't know the way KGB brainwashed their units. The west needs to wake up now or we have a war unlike we have seen before. Prevention is better then cure. Putin-Stalin same breed.

by: Anonymous

August 31, 2014 10:03 PM

Clearly this aggression indicates an act of war against the Ukrainian nation. The Ukrainian people should be guarded against these rebels by the world at all costs. Putin if proven involved should be jailed for his crimes. I think Putin needs to also be investigated for his participation of the deaths of so many Syrians as well. The Syrians mostly died by Russian weaponry by a ruthless criminal dictator. Anyone that helps these criminals should be treated as one themselves.

by: Anonymous

August 31, 2014 8:52 PM

Russian people should now overthrow Putin from power. He is doing nothing but seriously harming the Russian economy in the end. Any leader willing to risk the country they represent's economy over crap so stupid, should be removed from power. What Putin is doing is not harming himself, only the Russian people. Ousting Putin from Russian politics is the best solution for the world. Nobody I know that is Russian likes him at all, they think he is pathetic and can not be trusted whatsoever.

In Response

by: m from: Russia

August 31, 2014 11:02 PM

you foreigners have no right to tell us what to do, we do what we want and we want Ukraine crushed and Novorossiya freed thats why we want putin as president in the first place and if you keep putting your hands in russian affairs we will destroy America and your israhell puppets

In Response

by: Anonymous

August 31, 2014 10:11 PM

He is a hero, america and NATO have done enough destruction in the world and someone needs to attempt to stop them... my hopes and wishes are that he succeeds. I do live in a western country and our involvement in ukraine will hurt our way of life but that is the price I am willing to pay In order for many other lives to be saved by us not bombing them to bring Democracy.

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